MWCC's weekly e-newsletter
Friday, Aug. 26, 2005
INCOMING MWCC STUDENTS HELP BUILD
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME IN AYER
By Kimberly B. Caisse
About a dozen incoming Mount Wachusett Community College students spent the morning of Friday, Aug. 19 helping to build the Habitat for Humanity home at 22 Shirley St. in Ayer as part of the college’s first Summer Leadership Camp for new students.
The goal of this two-day camp was to offer new students an opportunity to get the most out of their college experience, develop leadership skills and learn the benefits of being involved in their college community. Helping with the Ayer Build introduced the students—who live in Templeton, Winchendon, Fitchburg, Leominster, Shirley, Ayer, Pepperell, Acton, Williamstown and Fitzwilliam, N.H.—to the college’s civic engagement initiative. MWCC students have given more than 6,000 hours of community service in the North Central Massachusetts region.
On the first day, Thursday, Aug. 18, students met MWCC alumni, learned about each other, time management skills, college student clubs, service-learning projects, the college’s academic and student services, and much more. The Summer Leadership Camp will be followed by another student leadership program in October.
Research shows that the more students are actively engaged in college co-curricular activities the more likely they are to reach their academic goals.
Camp participants Mike Fernandes of Pepperell and Chris Ouellette of Acton, said that because of the camp, they found out they are both studying criminal justice. Fernandes added that the camp allowed him to meet new friends and “get a heads up” on community service opportunities. “I want to help other people,” he said.
Ouellette said he signed up for the camp “to meet people and to have some fun.”
Participant Jacqie Kuffel of Fitchburg said the camp offered a new experience and a chance to lend a hand in the community. “I like helping people out,” she said, as she took a break from sawing a board. “My uncle built his own house, so I have this type of experience.”
AmeriCorps VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) Amanda Landry of Winchendon and Adam Ewert, a Gardner resident, as well as MWCC Student Life office staff also volunteered their services at the Ayer construction site. The home is being built for Janice Cornier and her two children, Fernando and Jessica.
To learn more about MWCC student programs, contact Director of Student Life Greg Clement at (978) 630-9547 or gclement@mwcc.mass.edu.
To learn more about that project, visit www.ncmhabitat.org.
Upcoming Campus Events:
• The deadline is fast approaching for area entrepreneurs, business owners and nonprofit directors to submit business plans for the first annual MWCC Entrepreneurial Resource Center
Business Plan Competition. Applications and final business plans are due Monday, Aug. 29. Competition guidelines and applications are available online at erc.mwcc.edu. The competition gives the North Central Massachusetts region’s innovators—in the business and community involvement sectors—the opportunity to submit business plans that will vie for up to $13,000 in cash as well as in-kind prizes. Three semi-finalists and a single finalist will be chosen in four categories: startup and growing businesses, nonprofits, community involvement and Fitchburg “Main Streets” businesses. The semi-finalists will compete for the finalist awards. A grand-prize winner will be selected from the four finalists. For more information, contact ERC Director Lisa Derby Oden at (978) 630-9548 or loden@mwcc.mass.edu.
• Register now for fall semester classes. They begin Tuesday, Sept. 6 at MWCC’s Devens, Gardner, Leominster and Orange campuses, and online. Choose from more than 40 degree and certificate programs. New courses beginning in the fall semester include introduction to natural resources, gender issues, current issues in biology, introduction to the fire service, introduction to energy management principles and renewable energy sources. MWCC newest program, dental hygiene, starts this semester at the HealthAlliance Hospital campus in Fitchburg. The college’s practical nursing program has expanded to the Devens campus. For more information and to register, contact the admissions office at (978) 630-9110 or admissions@mwcc.mass.edu.
• The MWCC Student Life office has planned orientation programs for new and transfer students. New daytime students will hear about MWCC’s financial aid options, disability services, student services, academic advising and much more at an orientation on Thursday, Sept. 1 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gardner campus. Orientation for new evening students will be held the same day from 6 to 7 p.m., also at the Gardner campus. For more information, contact Director of Student Life Greg Clement at (978) 630-9252 or gclement@mwcc.mass.edu.
• The Greater Gardner Community Choir will hold sign-up and first rehearsal for the fall semester on Monday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Under the direction of Diane Cushing, the choir meets Monday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m, in room 182 at MWCC. Music for the fall semester includes classical and contemporary holiday selections such as “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Gesu Bambino,” “March of the Kings,” “Winter Wonderland of Snow,” “Hodie Christus Natus Est.” A holiday concert is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16 at the college. A $20 music purchase fee is the only cost associated with joining. For more information, contact Professor Gail Steele at (978) 630-9162 or gsteele@mwcc.mass.edu.
• MWCC Entrepreneurial Resource Center at the Devens campus will host a series of seminars presented by Paul Lambert starting in September. They include: “Generating a Viable Business Idea and Bringing it to Market” on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 6 to 9p.m. for only $40; “Legal, Financial, and Tax Considerations in Selecting Business Form” on Thursdays, Sept. 8 and 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. for only $60; “Writing Your Business Plan” from Wednesday, Sept. 14 through Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. for only $300; and “Designing Ads and Marketing Materials” on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. for only $40. For more information and to register, contact Lisa Derby Oden at loden@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9548.
• Theatre at the Mount will offer a new series of classes for individuals who would like to learn to tap dance or to brush up their tap dancing skills. Nicole Couture, who has choreographed many TAM productions including the recent “Babes in Arms,” is the instructor for the four new classes. “Begin to Tap,” for teens grades 9 to 12 and adults with little or no tap experience will run on Wednesday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. beginning Sept. 21. “Begin to Tap” for students in grades 4 to 8 with little or no tap experience will run on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m. beginning Sept. 24. For teens and adults with some tap experience, “Brush up Your Tap” will be offered from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning September 21. “Brush up Your Tap” for students in grades 4 through 8 with some tap experience will be offered on Saturday mornings from 11:15 to 12:15 p.m. beginning September 24. Each program is 12 weeks long and costs only $100. To register, contact the Theatre at the Mount box office at (978) 632-2403 or contact Professor Gail Steele at gsteele@mwcc.mass.edu.
Lea Ann Erickson
Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322 Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
lerickson@mwcc.mass.edu
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Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green Street, Gardner,
MA 01440 (978) 632-6600